Optimizing streaming of a group of videos

ABSTRACT

Methods and arrangements for optimizing streaming of a group of videos. Throughput of video streams through a common link to at least two different destinations is permitted. An effective flow rate for each video stream is ascertained, and a playout lead for each video stream is estimated. The playout leads are equalized via dynamically changing the effective flow rates of the video streams.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/296,853, entitled OPTIMIZING STREAMING OF A GROUP OF VIDEOS, filed onNov. 15, 2011, which is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

The use of video streaming is rapidly on the increase. Streamed videostend to be compressed and have a Variable Bit Rate (VBR).Edge-of-network servers often are used to stream a large number ofvideos, e.g., via a caching proxy that serves cached videos to endusers. Many popular video streaming services use TCP (TransmissionControl Protocol) as the transport protocol, as it provides reliability,congestion control and traversal across firewalls. The effective rateallocated by TCP to competing streams sharing the same bottleneck linkor backhaul depends on network characteristics of the streams, such asthe loss rate and Round Trip Time (RTT). However, video serviceproviders typically seek to share a bottleneck link according toend-user quality-of-experience characteristics, such as the number oftimes a video player buffer under-flows (i.e., the number of videoplayout stalls). This, along with other conventional solutions, seldomresult in optimal streaming and can significantly restrict the number,rate and quality of streams that indeed end up being transported.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In summary, one aspect of the invention provides a method comprising:permitting throughput of video streams through a common link to at leasttwo different destinations; ascertaining an effective flow rate for eachvideo stream; estimating a playout lead for each video stream; andequalizing the playout leads via dynamically changing the effective flowrates of the video streams.

For a better understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention,together with other and further features and advantages thereof,reference is made to the following description, taken in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings, and the scope of the claimed embodimentsof the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a conventional video streamingarrangement.

FIG. 2 schematically illustrates the inclusion of playout buffers in avideo streaming arrangement.

FIG. 3 schematically illustrates the inclusion of a video groupoptimizer in a video streaming arrangement.

FIG. 4 sets forth a process more generally for optimizing streaming of agroup of videos.

FIG. 5 illustrates a computer system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments ofthe invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figuresherein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of differentconfigurations in addition to the described exemplary embodiments. Thus,the following more detailed description of the embodiments of theinvention, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit thescope of the embodiments of the invention, as claimed, but is merelyrepresentative of exemplary embodiments of the invention.

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” (or the like) means that a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic described in connection with the embodiment is includedin at least one embodiment of the invention. Thus, appearances of thephrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” or the like in variousplaces throughout this specification are not necessarily all referringto the same embodiment.

Furthermore, the described features, structures, or characteristics maybe combined in any suitable manner in at least one embodiment. In thefollowing description, numerous specific details are provided to give athorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled inthe relevant art will recognize, however, that the various embodimentsof the invention can be practiced without at least one of the specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, et cetera. Inother instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations are notshown or described in detail to avoid obscuring aspects of theinvention.

The description now turns to the figures. The illustrated embodiments ofthe invention will be best understood by reference to the figures. Thefollowing description is intended only by way of example and simplyillustrates certain selected exemplary embodiments of the invention asclaimed herein.

It should be noted that the flowchart and block diagrams in the figuresillustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possibleimplementations of systems, apparatuses, methods and computer programproducts according to various embodiments of the invention. In thisregard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent amodule, segment, or portion of code, which comprises at least oneexecutable instruction for implementing the specified logicalfunction(s). It should also be noted that, in some alternativeimplementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of theorder noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in successionmay, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks maysometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon thefunctionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of theblock diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocksin the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implementedby special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specifiedfunctions or acts, or combinations of special purpose hardware andcomputer instructions.

The disclosure now turns to FIGS. 1-3. It should be appreciated that theprocesses, arrangements and products broadly illustrated therein can becarried out on or in accordance with essentially any suitable computersystem or set of computer systems, which may, by way of an illustrativeand non-restrictive example, include a system or server such as thatindicated at 12′ in FIG. 5. In accordance with an example embodiment,most if not all of the process steps, components and outputs discussedwith respect to FIGS. 1-3 can be performed or utilized by way of aprocessing unit or units and system memory such as those indicated,respectively, at 16′ and 28′ in FIG. 5, whether on a server computer, aclient computer, a node computer in a distributed network, or anycombination thereof.

To facilitate easier reference, in advancing from FIG. 1 to and throughFIG. 3, a reference numeral is advanced by a multiple of 100 inindicating a substantially similar or analogous component or elementwith respect to at least one component or element found in at least oneearlier figure among FIGS. 1-3.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, there isbroadly contemplated herein a system and method to manage theQuality-of-Experience (QoE) of end-users of video streaming over TCP.Network characteristics of flows are gradually changed, e.g., bychanging RTT, so as to avoid a sudden drop in TCP throughput, e.g., dueto TCP timeout. A significant advantage is that no modifications arerequired at the user's end or in the TCP/IP (Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol) protocol stack. A conventional videostreaming arrangement is shown in FIG. 1. As shown, a video server 102is connected to a router/base station 104 via a bottleneck link 106,wherein the bottleneck link 106 is configured to handle at least twovideo streams via a TCP protocol, to be distributed to end users. Twosuch users 108/110 are shown.

By way of background, in the context of at least one embodiment of theinvention, the effective rate of a TCP flow is discussed in ComputerNetworking: A Top-Down Approach, Fifth Edition (James F. Kurose andKeith W. Ross, Addison-Wesley, 2010). As discussed therein, a givenflow, the TCP's effective rate is inversely related to Round Trip Time(RTT) and square root of loss rate √p . More particularly,

Effective TCP rate≈c/(RTT.√p),

where c is a constant for a given connection. Under this assumption,multiple competing TCP flows over bottleneck link 106 will share thelink according to their RTT and p, and bandwidth is equally shared onlyif the RTT.√p of all flows are equal. Additionally, the flow ratesuddenly drops if there is a timeout of a TCP segment. Timeout value ofa flow is dynamically updated to the EstimatedRTT+4.DevRTT, whereEstimated RTT and DevRTT are exponentially weighted moving averages ofmeasure RTT value and their deviation, for the previous TCP segments inthe flow.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, inrecognizing that the required rate to maintain a given end-user QoE fora VBR video may vary with time, a playout lead-based QoE estimation isused. Essentially, the playout lead of a video stream is the amount oftime the user can play out of its buffer without receiving additionalvideo data, while the playback curve of a video specifies the cumulativedata requirement of the video by time t from the start of the play. Thesmaller the playout lead of a video stream at any point of time, themore is its vulnerability to stalling. Accordingly, FIG. 2 illustrates,in accordance with the context of at least one embodiment of theinvention, different TCP flows 212 and 214 through bottleneck link 206,destined for different users 208 and 210, respectively. Also shown areplayout buffers 216 and 218 generally included with respect to each user208 and 210, respectively.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, there isbroadly contemplated herein an arrangement for dynamically changing theeffective TCP rates of multiple video streams sharing a link such thatthe playout leads are equal across the flows. To this end, and as shownin FIG. 3, there is provided a video group optimizer (VGO) 320, or asystem that is adjacent to the video server 302 at the edge and measuresthe RTT of TCP flows 312/314 and the effective TCP rate for each flow,as indicated at 322 and 324. Since the VGO 320 is adjacent to the videoserver 302, it can closely approximate the RTT and rate observed by thevideo server 302. It is assumed that playback curves for the videos areavailable at the VGO 320 and that the video server 302 can share theplayback curve with VGO 320 in an offline manner; the associated curvesnormally would not require considerable storage space.

Further, in accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention,for each video stream, based on the starting time of the videotransmission and the playback curve, and the amount of data transmittedover the flow, the VGO 320 continuously estimates the lead of eachvideo. The VGO also continuously estimates the timeout value of a streambased on the measured RTT for each segment (by following IETF RFC 2988).(This IETF standard is typically followed in TCP implementations and itis employed to estimate timeout value. For background purposes, see“Computing TCP's Retransmission Timer, RFC 2988” [V. Paxson and M.Allman, Internet Engineering Task Force {IETF}, 2000].) Using thecomputed playout lead, and the current effective rate of each videostream and timeout value, VGO 320 introduces delays 326 and 328 for theTCP ACKs (acknowledgements) of each flow 312/314, respectively, using amethod such as that described herebelow.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, methodsteps as described herebelow are executed every Φ seconds as aniteration of the process. For each video stream, the amount of videodata sent is ascertained and recorded. For each video k, the playoutlead ld_k is computed, along with TCP timeout to_k. For each videostream k, using the measured TCP rate and RTT_k, a constant c_k/√p_k iscomputed (wherein the assumption is made that loss rate p_k is aconstant for this iteration). For each video, the new playout lead pl_kis determined if the current rate is provided to each video for next Δsec. A minimum and maximum desired lead is computed (e.g., median lead−Dand median lead+D, respectively, where D is a constant) for the videos.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, then foreach video k with (lead pl_k<minimum desired lead ml), delay d_k andassociated rate r_k=c_k/((RTT_k+d_k)·√p_k) are calculated such that theplayout lead of the video will increase to m1 if rate r_k is allocatedfor the video flow for the next Δ sec. (It should be appreciated thatd_k can even be negative here.) A new value of value of d_k is then setto max(0, d_k). On the other hand, for each video k with (leadpl_k>maximum desired lead m2), delay d_k and associated rate(r_k=c_k/((RTT_k+d_k)·√p_k) is calculated such that the playout lead ofthe video will decrease to m2 if rate r_k is allocated for the videoflow for the next Δ sec. The new value of d_k is then set to min(d_k,to_k−RTT_k); to avoid timeout, the new RTT should not exceed to_k.

In accordance with at least one embodiment of the invention, in aremaining possible scenario where for each video k with (minimum desiredlead≦lead pl_k≦maximum desired lead), delay d_k remains unchanged.Thence, for each video k, delay d_k is introduced for each TCP ACK ofthe video flow in the delay queue in VGO 320.

In considering the steps discussed hereinabove, in accordance with atleast one embodiment of the invention it should be noted that the valueof p_k may change between iterations. Further, Δ and Φ are tunableparameters with Φ<Δ. By way of illustrative and non-restrictiveexamples, Φ can be in the range of about 10-15 seconds while Δ can be inthe range of about 2-3 minutes.

FIG. 4 sets forth a process more generally for optimizing streaming of agroup of videos, in accordance with at least one embodiment of theinvention. It should be appreciated that a process such as that broadlyillustrated in FIG. 4 can be carried out on essentially any suitablecomputer system or set of computer systems, which may, by way of anillustrative and non-restrictive example, include a system such as thatindicated at 12′ in FIG. 5. In accordance with an example embodiment,most if not all of the process steps discussed with respect to FIG. 4can be performed by way a processing unit or units and system memorysuch as those indicated, respectively, at 16′ and 28′ in FIG. 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, throughput of video streams through a common link toat least two different destinations is permitted (402). An effectiveflow rate for each video stream is ascertained (404), and a playout leadfor each video stream is estimated (406). The playout leads viadynamically changing the effective flow rates of the video streams(408).

Referring now to FIG. 5, a schematic of an example of a cloud computingnode is shown. Cloud computing node 10′ is only one example of asuitable cloud computing node and is not intended to suggest anylimitation as to the scope of use or functionality of embodiments of theinvention described herein. Regardless, cloud computing node 10′ iscapable of being implemented and/or performing any of the functionalityset forth hereinabove. In accordance with embodiments of the invention,computing node 10′ may not necessarily even be part of a cloud networkbut instead could be part of another type of distributed or othernetwork, or could represent a stand-alone node. For the purposes ofdiscussion and illustration, however, node 10′ is variously referred toherein as a “cloud computing node”.

In cloud computing node 10′ there is a computer system/server 12′, whichis operational with numerous other general purpose or special purposecomputing system environments or configurations. Examples of well-knowncomputing systems, environments, and/or configurations that may besuitable for use with computer system/server 12′ include, but are notlimited to, personal computer systems, server computer systems, thinclients, thick clients, hand-held or laptop devices, multiprocessorsystems, microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmableconsumer electronics, network PCs, minicomputer systems, mainframecomputer systems, and distributed cloud computing environments thatinclude any of the above systems or devices, and the like.

Computer system/server 12′ may be described in the general context ofcomputer system-executable instructions, such as program modules, beingexecuted by a computer system. Generally, program modules may includeroutines, programs, objects, components, logic, data structures, and soon that perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Computer system/server 12′ may be practiced in distributed cloudcomputing environments where tasks are performed by remote processingdevices that are linked through a communications network. In adistributed cloud computing environment, program modules may be locatedin both local and remote computer system storage media including memorystorage devices.

As shown in FIG. 5, computer system/server 12′ in cloud computing node10 is shown in the form of a general-purpose computing device. Thecomponents of computer system/server 12′ may include, but are notlimited to, at least one processor or processing unit 16′, a systemmemory 28′, and a bus 18′ that couples various system componentsincluding system memory 28′ to processor 16′.

Bus 18′ represents at least one of any of several types of busstructures, including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheralbus, an accelerated graphics port, and a processor or local bus usingany of a variety of bus architectures. By way of example, and notlimitation, such architectures include Industry Standard Architecture(ISA) bus, Micro Channel Architecture (MCA) bus, Enhanced ISA (EISA)bus, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) local bus, andPeripheral Component Interconnects (PCI) bus.

Computer system/server 12′ typically includes a variety of computersystem readable media. Such media may be any available media that isaccessible by computer system/server 12′, and it includes both volatileand non-volatile media, removable and non-removable media.

System memory 28′ can include computer system readable media in the formof volatile memory, such as random access memory (RAM) 30′ and/or cachememory 32′. Computer system/server 12′ may further include otherremovable/non-removable, volatile/non-volatile computer system storagemedia. By way of example only, storage system 34′ can be provided forreading from and writing to a non-removable, non-volatile magnetic media(not shown and typically called a “hard drive”). Although not shown, amagnetic disk drive for reading from and writing to a removable,non-volatile magnetic disk (e.g., a “floppy disk”), and an optical diskdrive for reading from or writing to a removable, non-volatile opticaldisk such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM or other optical media can be provided.In such instances, each can be connected to bus 18′ by at least one datamedia interface. As will be further depicted and described below, memory28′ may include at least one program product having a set (e.g., atleast one) of program modules that are configured to carry out thefunctions of embodiments of the invention.

Program/utility 40′, having a set (at least one) of program modules 42′,may be stored in memory 28′ by way of example, and not limitation, aswell as an operating system, at least one application program, otherprogram modules, and program data. Each of the operating system, atleast one application program, other program modules, and program dataor some combination thereof, may include an implementation of anetworking environment. Program modules 42′ generally carry out thefunctions and/or methodologies of embodiments of the invention asdescribed herein.

Computer system/server 12′ may also communicate with at least oneexternal device 14′ such as a keyboard, a pointing device, a display24′, etc.; at least one device that enable a user to interact withcomputer system/server 12′; and/or any devices (e.g., network card,modem, etc.) that enable computer system/server 12′ to communicate withat least one other computing device. Such communication can occur viaI/O interfaces 22′. Still yet, computer system/server 12′ cancommunicate with at least one network such as a local area network(LAN), a general wide area network (WAN), and/or a public network (e.g.,the Internet) via network adapter 20′. As depicted, network adapter 20′communicates with the other components of computer system/server 12′ viabus 18′. It should be understood that although not shown, other hardwareand/or software components could be used in conjunction with computersystem/server 12′. Examples, include, but are not limited to: microcode,device drivers, redundant processing units, external disk drive arrays,RAID systems, tape drives, and data archival storage systems, etc.

It should be noted that aspects of the invention may be embodied as asystem, method or computer program product. Accordingly, aspects of theinvention may take the form of an entirely hardware embodiment, anentirely software embodiment (including firmware, resident software,micro-code, etc.) or an embodiment combining software and hardwareaspects that may all generally be referred to herein as a “circuit,”“module” or “system.” Furthermore, aspects of the invention may take theform of a computer program product embodied in at least one computerreadable medium having computer readable program code embodied thereon.

Any combination of at least one computer readable medium may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. Morespecific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of the computer readablestorage medium would include the following: an electrical connectionhaving at least one wire, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, arandom access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasableprogrammable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber,a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storagedevice, a magnetic storage device, or any suitable combination of theforegoing. In the context of this document, a computer readable storagemedium may be any tangible medium that can contain, or store a programfor use by or in connection with an instruction execution system,apparatus, or device.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wire line, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

Computer program code for carrying out operations for aspects of theinvention may be written in any combination of at least one programminglanguage, including an object oriented programming language such asJava®, Smalltalk, C++ or the like and conventional proceduralprogramming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similarprogramming languages. The program code may execute entirely on theuser's computer (device), partly on the user's computer, as astand-alone software package, partly on the user's computer and partlyon a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. Inthe latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user'scomputer through any type of network, including a local area network(LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to anexternal computer (for example, through the Internet using an InternetService Provider).

Aspects of the invention are described herein with reference toflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus(systems) and computer program products according to embodiments of theinvention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchartillustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in theflowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented bycomputer program instructions. These computer program instructions maybe provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, specialpurpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus toproduce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via theprocessor of the computer or other programmable data processingapparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified inthe flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computerreadable medium that can direct a computer, other programmable dataprocessing apparatus, or other devices to function in a particularmanner, such that the instructions stored in the computer readablemedium produce an article of manufacture including instructions whichimplement the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer,other programmable data processing apparatus, or other devices to causea series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, otherprogrammable apparatus or other devices to produce a computerimplemented process such that the instructions which execute on thecomputer or other programmable apparatus provide processes forimplementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or blockdiagram block or blocks.

This disclosure has been presented for purposes of illustration anddescription but is not intended to be exhaustive or limiting. Manymodifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skillin the art. The embodiments were chosen and described in order toexplain principles and practical application, and to enable others ofordinary skill in the art to understand the disclosure for variousembodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particularuse contemplated.

Although illustrative embodiments of the invention have been describedherein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to beunderstood that the embodiments of the invention are not limited tothose precise embodiments, and that various other changes andmodifications may be affected therein by one skilled in the art withoutdeparting from the scope or spirit of the disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: permitting throughput ofvideo streams through a common link to at least two differentdestinations; ascertaining an effective flow rate for each video stream;estimating a playout lead for each video stream; and equalizing theplayout leads via dynamically changing the effective flow rates of thevideo streams.
 2. The method according to claim 1, wherein saidestimating comprises determining a round trip time for each videostream.
 3. The method according to claim 2, wherein said estimatingfurther comprises obtaining a playback curve for each video stream. 4.The method according to claim 2, wherein said estimating furthercomprises ascertaining a start time of each video stream.
 5. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein said estimating further comprisesestimating a timeout value of each video stream based on measured roundtrip times.
 6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said equalizingcomprises introducing a delay into at least one video stream.
 7. Themethod according to claim 6, wherein the delay is based on the estimatedtimeout value, measured round trip time and ascertained effective flowrate of each video stream.
 8. The method according to claim 5, whereinsaid estimating of a timeout value comprises estimating a timeout valueof each video stream continuously.
 9. The method according to claim 1,wherein said equalizing comprises introducing a delay into at least onevideo stream.
 10. The method according to claim 1, wherein saidestimating comprises estimating a playout lead for each video streamcontinuously.
 11. The method according to claim 1, further comprisingestablishing at least one taken from the group consisting of: a minimumdesired playout lead and a maximum desired playout lead.
 12. The methodaccording to claim 11, wherein said equalizing comprises adjusting anestimated playout lead to match one taken from said group consisting of:a minimum desired playout lead and a maximum desired playout lead.